Nutrition care provision by Australian general practitioners – perceptions of medical educators

Nutrition care provision by Australian general practitioners – perceptions of medical educators

Author

Ball, Lauren Elizabeth; Leveritt, Michael; Hughes, Roger Michael

Publication Title

Special Issue: Dietitians Association of Australia 28th National Conference

Editor

Linda Tapsell

Year Published

2010

Place of publication

Australia

Publisher

Wiley-Blackwell

Abstract

In Australia, nutrition advice from general practitioners (GPs) is held
in high regard by the general public. GPs are ranked by consumers as
one of the most trustworthy sources of diet information. Literature
investigating the role of GPs in the provision of nutrition care is limited.
This qualitative research investigated the perceptions of general practice
medical educators concerning the role of GPs in nutrition care provision.
Twenty medical educators from fourteen universities participated
in an individual semi-structured telephone interview. Participants were
prompted to discuss their perceptions of the role of GPs for nutrition
care provision. Data recordings were transcribed and thematically analysed.
Medical educators identified that nutrition was important in
general practice. However, many barriers to providing nutrition advice
were identified. These included lack of time; lack of nutrition education
at university; lack of GP nutrition education and counselling skills; low
self-efficacy; poor attitudes and differing perceptions about the role of
GPs in nutrition care. Patient care may be compromised and inconsistent
because of these barriers. The role of GPs in nutrition care needs
further investigation, as well as the development of nutrition-related
competencies for GPs and medical nutrition education in Australia.

Copyright 2010 DAA. Published by Blackwell Publishing Ltd. This is the author-manuscript version of this paper. Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher. The definitive version is available at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/